Pakistani Forces Recover Weapons Cache from Two Mosque-Based Terrorist Hideouts in North Waziristan

ISLAMABAD (Terror Monitor) — Pakistani security forces have cleared two hideouts allegedly established inside mosques by terrorists in North Waziristan and recovered a substantial cache of weapons, ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and materials used in explosives manufacturing, the military said on Monday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the intelligence-based operation was conducted on November 8 in Mozak village, on the southern outskirts of Mir Ali, in the former tribal district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The military said the two locations had been used as terrorist hideouts. Security personnel reportedly recovered prepared IEDs, explosives, equipment used in explosives manufacturing, weapons and a large quantity of ammunition.

The ISPR further alleged that the terrorists had deliberately established the hideouts inside mosques to store explosives and had also been operating torture cells at the locations.

The military did not disclose the number or types of weapons and explosive devices recovered. It also provided no information about any arrests, deaths or injuries during the operation.

ISPR Accuses Terrorists of Exploiting Places of Worship

The military described the alleged use of mosques to store explosives and operate torture facilities as a desecration of places of worship, saying the practice demonstrated the group's disregard for the fundamental teachings of Islam.

The ISPR identified the targets as belonging to what the Pakistani state calls Fitna al-Khawarij, a designation it uses for members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The military also alleged that the group was receiving support from the Afghan Taliban and characterized the broader security threat as foreign-sponsored terrorism. These allegations were part of the ISPR statement and have not been independently verified.

Clearance Operations Continue

The ISPR said security forces were continuing clearance operations in the surrounding area to locate and eliminate any other suspected terrorist hideouts.

It added that counterterrorism operations would continue under the Azm-e-Istehkam framework, approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan.

The campaign aims to dismantle terrorist networks and prevent them from using Pakistani territory to plan and carry out attacks, according to the military.

President, KP Governor Praise Security Forces

President Asif Ali Zardari praised security forces for the operation, commending their professionalism.

According to Pakistani media reports, Zardari said using mosques to store explosives and as centres of violence was a blatant violation of the fundamental teachings of Islam.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also expressed concern over the reported use of religious sites for terrorist activities and called for intensified intelligence-based operations to restore peace across the province.

Militant Violence Remains a Security Challenge

The operation comes amid continuing security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where Pakistani security forces have been conducting repeated operations against terrorist networks.

According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), 49 militant attacks were recorded across Pakistan between October 30 and November 5, compared with 31 during the preceding week. The attacks resulted in 25 deaths and 21 injuries.

The institute also recorded 21 notable counterterrorism operations during the same period, compared with 12 in the previous week. Those operations resulted in the deaths of 50 militants, according to its weekly assessment.

The figures suggest that both militant violence and counterterrorism operations have intensified, despite a decline in attacks recorded during October.

PICSS reported that militant attacks fell by 37 per cent in October compared with September, while fatalities declined by 57 per cent and injuries by 71 per cent. However, the increase in reported attacks during the first week of November highlights the continuing volatility of Pakistan's security situation.

Reporting and Verification

The November 9 operation was reported by Pakistani media outlets, including Dawn, The Express Tribune and Business Recorder, primarily on the basis of the ISPR statement.

No independent confirmation from major international news agencies, including Reuters, the Associated Press or Agence France-Presse, was identified in the available reporting.

Consequently, details concerning the weapons cache, alleged torture cells and the use of mosques as terrorist hideouts remain attributed to the Pakistani military.

The PICSS figures provide broader context on Pakistan's security situation but do not independently verify the military's account of the operation in Mozak village.